DANIEL EMBRY

LAMAR-A memorial celebration of life will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, at Daniel Funeral Home for Daniel Dale Embry, 54, Lamar, who died Thursday, Aug. 4, 2016, following a long battle with cancer.

Contributions may be made to the Gary Embry Scholarship Fund, in care of the funeral home.

Condolences may be shared at www.danielfuneralhome.net.

Survivors include his mother, Juliann Bennett; four sisters, Shirley Gaither and husband Bill, Betty Embry, Jeannie Thieman and husband Jerry and Sherry Embry; a brother, Dr. Bill Embry and wife Crystal; his children, Ryan Embry and wife Beth, Autumn Timmerman and husband Nick, Brooklyn Guo and husband Justin, Danny Embry and Billy Embry; four grandchildren, Dominique, Titus, Ivy and Amelia “Meela”; 21 nieces and nephews and 22 great-nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his father, Ben Embry; a nephew, Landyn Eugene Davis and two brothers-in-law, Jeff Grote and Ron Sherman.

Mr. Embry was born Feb. 13, 1962, to Luther Ben and Juliann (Jenkins) Embry. He grew up on a farm in northeast Barton County, where he acquired a great love for hunting, fishing and life outdoors. He attended Lamar R-1 schools until his graduation in May of 1980. His favorite activities were vo-ag and football. He, along with his five siblings, were baptized in the Logan family farm pond near Miller in 1970 and he were confirmed as members of the Community of Christ Church. He was a soccer coach for the first season of soccer in Lamar.

During high school he worked at the Lamar Super Market. After graduating he and Rocky Taft joined Rocky's father, Leo Taft, in planting trees for the National Forestry Service. From that experience he started his own business, Bootheel Forestry, which expanded from tree planting to include native prairie restoration projects. Much of his knowledge about native species was gained from long conversations with his paternal grandfather, Luther Park Embry. His projects have beautified areas in three states.

He married Crystal Taft on March 27, 1994, in Bernie, in a service performed by his brother, Elmer Bill Embry in the Community of Christ Church. They had five children, Ryan, Autumn, Brooklyn, Rocky Daniel and William Dale. He especially loved sharing his love of all things outdoors with his children, especially hunting, fishing and camping. He also enjoyed helping coach their youth football teams.